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VW Passat TDI Getting very sluggish in 1st

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  • 14-11-2009 10:07pm
    #1
    BrokenArrows
    Registered Users Posts: 7,500 ✭✭✭


    Lately ive noticed in 1st gear the car is very sluggish in 1st and to a lesser extent 2nd. 3rd 4th and 5th are fine.

    1st gear its 4000rpm before the turbo kicks in, 2nd its around the 3000rpm.

    Any ideas on what i can check?


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    #2
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,685 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Beyond me how any car can be sluggish in 1st only. The power and torque are the same in every gear.


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    #3
    Fishtits
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,382 ✭✭✭Fishtits


    VW/Audi Diesels always had marginal 1st gears, prone to stalling if you didn't give it enough.

    Rough buggers. I've got one.

    Economical, and if maintained properly bullet proof reliability. But don't expect refinement.

    Cheers,


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    #4
    Barr
    Registered Users Posts: 7,000 ✭✭✭Barr


    sluggish in 1st , sorry I cant be of any help but how can a car be sluggish in 1st :D


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    #5
    Ger the man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 459 ✭✭Ger the man


    By any chance did you (or anyone else) recently drive the car very low on fuel?(low fuel warning light on) If so, it may be your fuel pump.


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    #6
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,685 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Fishtits wrote: »
    VW/Audi Diesels always had marginal 1st gears, prone to stalling if you didn't give it enough.

    Rough buggers. I've got one.

    Economical, and if maintained properly bullet proof reliability. But don't expect refinement.

    Cheers,

    Highly geared 1st cog then?


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    #7
    AzureAuto
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 233 ✭✭AzureAuto


    Turbo should start spooling around 2500 rpm in all gears. I expect the sluggishness is down to turbo problem. Possibly the wasegate is stuck open and you're not generating enough boost, but this would usually be accomanied by an engine management light coming on. check all vacuum pipes for rips/tears, especially the one to the N75 wastegate valve.


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    #8
    Fundthementals
    Registered Users Posts: 23 ✭Fundthementals


    If you cannot see anything obvious around the turbo vac pipes etc then i would suspect a faulty MAF sensor - generally responsible for the majority of performance issues with the VAG diesel engines. Simple to change - located on the air intake ducting just behind the air filter box, costs ~ 100 euro as far as i remember.


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    #9
    GTE
    Registered Users Posts: 3,911 ✭✭✭GTE


    Well, if your TDI is a 2000ish the turbo should be going full pelt in at 2000rpm. Once my car hits 1800rpm the thing takes off. Its a pity there arent a couple extra thousand RPM after that to make use of it but anyway. Your TDI seems to be acting up somehow but I dont know how that the turbo would kick in later then it should.

    tdiclub.com would be a better place to find out info if you are having a problem that no one else seems to have.


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    #10
    nogoodnamesleft
    Registered Users Posts: 1,031 ✭✭✭nogoodnamesleft


    +1

    I have a 2003 Passat Tdi (130) and turbo kicks in also at 1800rpm. What mileage is on it? Ive heard from a ex VW mechanic that around 150k is the point at which the turbo goes.


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    #11
    voxpop
    Registered Users Posts: 2,800 ✭✭✭voxpop


    Weird that it would only happen in 1st - if there was a problem with something it would affect the engine in all gears. Have you tried the simple things first, clogged air filter, clogged fuel filter, soft tires ,etc.


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    #12
    BrokenArrows
    Registered Users Posts: 7,500 ✭✭✭BrokenArrows


    Ger the man wrote: »
    By any chance did you (or anyone else) recently drive the car very low on fuel?(low fuel warning light on) If so, it may be your fuel pump.

    Ya i let the low warning light come on last month but i filled it about 20km after it came on.
    +1

    I have a 2003 Passat Tdi (130) and turbo kicks in also at 1800rpm. What mileage is on it? Ive heard from a ex VW mechanic that around 150k is the point at which the turbo goes.

    im on 155k at the moment so that might be it. expensive fix if necessary??


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    #13
    nogoodnamesleft
    Registered Users Posts: 1,031 ✭✭✭nogoodnamesleft


    BrokenArrows wrote: »
    Ya i let the low warning light come on last month but i filled it about 20km after it came on.



    im on 155k at the moment so that might be it. expensive fix if necessary??

    If neccessary id recon in the region of 800euro from the dealer. I would approach otto car parts 1st before going next or near the dealer.


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    #14
    AzureAuto
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 233 ✭✭AzureAuto


    Right too, main dealers aren't nick-named steakers for nothing. The turbos are handy enough to change in the longitudinally mounted engines, and good reconditioned units can be bought for 750 euro, think my last customers total bill came to just under 950 altogether. pm me your engine code and I'll get you a quote..code will be on a sticker on timing belt cover, something like AHW or ALZ


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    #15
    maidhc
    Registered Users Posts: 7,558 ✭✭✭maidhc


    voxpop wrote: »
    Weird that it would only happen in 1st - if there was a problem with something it would affect the engine in all gears. Have you tried the simple things first, clogged air filter, clogged fuel filter, soft tires ,etc.

    A lack of low down boost will be far noticeable in first than in other gears for the simple reason you are starting from the bottom of the rev range and rarely go past the halfway mark before changing to second!


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